The Minnesota Lynx’s longest losing streak of the season ends at two.

The Lynx overcame a 12-point deficit to defeat the Indiana Fever 95-90 in Indianapolis Friday in a rematch of the 2025 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup title game. Lynx guard Kayla McBride led the way with a game-high 29 points (10-of-19 FGs, 4-of-8 on 3-pointers), five assists and one block. Center Jessica Shepard added 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, marking only the second triple-double in Minnesota franchise history.

Minnesota withstood a barrage of 3-pointers from the Fever, who knocked down 10 3-pointers in the first half alone and finished shooting 65% (13-of-20) from the 3-point line. The Lynx took its first lead of the game in the third quarter and extended it to 14 points, before the Fever came within five points.

Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell finished with a team-high 27 points and five assists in the loss, while Lexie Hull recorded a new career high with 23 points, four rebounds and two assists.

Fever guard Caitlin Clark (right groin) and Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (right ankle) were both ruled out of Friday’s matchup. It marked Clark’s 14th consecutive absence and Collier’s 7th consecutive game missed.

Minnesota (29-7) has already clinched a playoff bid marking their 14th in the past 15 seasons. Indiana (19-17) is in playoff contention, sitting in sixth place in the standings.

The Fever and Lynx will face each other two more times this season after Friday’s matchup. They will meet on Sunday, Aug. 24 in Minneapolis and on Sept. 9 in Indianapolis.

Here’s a recap of Friday’s matchup between the Fever and Lynx:

Halftime: Fever 52, Lynx 50

It’s raining 3-pointers in Indianapolis.

The Fever started the game 14-20 from the field and shot 71.4% from the 3-point line, knocking down 10-of-14 shots from beyond the arc. Fever guard Lexie Hull is up to 18 points in 18 minutes (3-of-5 3PT), surpassing her previous season-high of 17 points. She’s closing in on her career-high off 22 points scored against the Seattle Storm in 2024. Kelsey Mitchell (3-of-4 3PT) added 13 points and three assists.

Despite the Fever’s barrage of 3-pointers, the Lynx only trail by two heading into halftime. Minnesota, who is coming off a 75-73 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, isn’t playing bad by any means. The Lynx are shooting 54.1% from the field and 5-of-11 from the 3-point line and have been able to hang with the Fever on second-chance points. The Lynx had 22 rebounds (7 offensive) in the first half, compared to the Fever’s 14 (1 offensive).

Lynx guard Kayla McBride has a team-high 16 points (3-of-4 3PT), while center Jessica Shepard is on triple-double watch already with 11 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. Minnesota guard Courtney Williams got off to a rough start and was held scoreless, going 0-of-4 from the field and 0-of-2 from 3 so far.

End of Q1: Fever 27, Lynx 22

The Fever led the Lynx by as many as nine points in the first quarter, but Minnesota cut its deficit to five points heading into the second quarter. Fever guard Lexie Hull came out on a mission on Friday, scoring 11 of the Fever’s 27 first-quarter points. The Fever are shooting 64.3% from the field and 71.4% from the 3-point line.

The Lynx collectively shot 58.8% from the field, but Minnesota gave up seven points on four turnovers, which marks the difference in the game. Center Jessica Shepard leads the Lynx with 10 points and three rebounds.

What time is Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx?

The Indiana Fever host the Minnesota Lynx in Indianapolis at 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) on Friday, Aug. 22 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The game will be broadcast on ION.

How to watch Indiana Fever vs. Minnesota Lynx: TV, stream

• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT)
• Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
• TV channel: ION
• Streaming: Fubo (free trial to new subscribers)

Indiana Fever starting lineup

The Fever are sending guard Odyssey Sims, guard Kelsey Mitchell, guard Lexie Hull, forward Natasha Howard and Aliyah Boston to the floor.

Is Caitlin Clark playing today?

Clark (right groin) was ruled out of Friday’s matchup against the Lynx, marking her 14th consecutive absence and 23rd missed game overall this season. Sydney Colson (left knee), Aari McDonald (right foot) and Sophie Cunningham (right knee) are all out with season-ending injuries. Chloe Bibby (left knee) was also ruled out.

Minnesota Lynx starting lineup

Forward Bridget Carleton, forward Alanna Smith, center Jessica Shepard, guard Kayla McBride and guard Courtney Williams will start for the Lynx on Friday.

Napheesa Collier ruled out

Collier was listed as questionable ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Fever due to her right ankle, but the MVP frontrunner was downgraded to out less than an hour before tipoff.

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Boomer Esiason is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Cincinnati Bengals history. He’s one of two Bengals players to win the NFL MVP award, winning it in 1988 as the team made a run to the Super Bowl.

The franchise created a Ring of Honor in 2021 and made him one of its early inductees in 2023.

He’s invited to the Bengals’ Ring of Honor ceremony this year on Oct. 26 when Cincinnati hosts the New York Jets. But Esiason took issue with his invitation, which he read out loud to co-host Greg Giannotti on his radio show ‘Boomer & Gio’ this week.

‘The Bengals organization is excited to celebrate our legends community and kindly invite you and a guest to join us in celebrating Dave Lapham and Lemar Parrish on Ring of Honor weekend in October, culminating at our game on Sunday, October 26, when the Bengals take on the New York Jets,’ Esiason read. ‘More details are below, and we kindly ask you to RSVP no later than Friday, August 22. You and a guest can receive two complementary tickets with an opportunity to purchase an additional one, if you wish.’

So far, so good. Esiason then got to the part of the invite he found troublesome.

‘If you are traveling in for the weekend from out of town, we have secured a block of rooms at the Renaissance Hotel at a preferred discounted rate,’ Esiason continued. ‘Rooms are limited, so please book directly for the early and the best rate. We look forward to hosting you in The Jungle for an unforgettable weekend. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me or another guy on the staff with any questions. Thank you. And Who Dey.’

‘Who Dey?’ Giannotti said. ‘Who Dey think they are making you pay for your own hotel room?’

Esiason admitted he’s unsure about attending the ceremony after receiving that invitation.

‘You think I’m an elitist if I say no to that?’ Esiason said.

This news comes as the Bengals remain in a contract stalemate with reigning NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson. The two sides seem far apart on total compensation as the season gets closer.

As that’s happening to a current Bengals player, both Esiason and Giannotti were surprised that the team won’t pay for hotel rooms for franchise legends.

Giannotti added that the email invite didn’t seem very personal – a surprise given how few people are in the Bengals’ Ring of Honor.

‘How many people are in a Ring of Honor now? Eight? All right, so they should be getting different emails than this generic email,’ he said.

There are 10 people currently in the Bengals’ Ring of Honor ahead of the 2025 class of cornerback Parrish and former guard and current radio analyst Lapham.

At least Esiason got an invite. Bengals career rushing leader Corey Dillon said on X that he didn’t receive an email invitation at all.

‘At least my guy Boomer got an invite and email ,’ Dillon wrote.

Bengals Ring of Honor members

Esiason is one of two quarterbacks in the Bengals’ Ring of Honor in addition to the team’s career passing leader Ken Anderson. Here’s a list of each member and their year of induction:

*=denotes player/coach inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

• Coach Paul Brown (2021)*
• QB Ken Anderson (2021)
• OT Anthony Muñoz (2021)*
• CB Ken Riley (2021)*
• WR Isaac Curtis (2022)
• OT Willie Anderson (2022)
• WR Chad Johnson (2023)
• QB Boomer Esiason (2023)
• DT Tim Krumrie (2024)
• RB Corey Dillon (2024)

• Coming off a run to the NFC title game, Commanders seemed to fortify their roster yet agreed to trade Robinson on Friday.
• Washington has also been slow to award WR Terry McLaurin, a longtime leader, a new contract.
• But there are still two weeks to smooth things over and reveal a plan before the Giants come to play in the Week 1 opener.

If you’re wondering what the Washington Commanders are doing … same. But let’s not suggest they don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt despite their recent maneuvers (or lack thereof).

Friday’s agreement to trade starting running back Brian Robinson Jr. to the San Francisco 49ers – in what effectively and belatedly becomes a Robinson-for-Deebo Samuel swap − landed with a perplexing first impression, particularly given what had occurred otherwise during the offseason.

Coming off a magical ride to the NFC championship game last season, spearheaded by Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels and a wholly new regime, the Commanders punctuated – well ahead of schedule – their return to NFL relevance. Then GM Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn spent a good chunk of the spring signaling a Lombardi Trophy push as their wunderkind quarterback entered his second season – meaning at least two more to go before Daniels is even eligible for the nine-figure extension he probably already deserves.

Peters made a deal in March for Samuel, an often dynamic player if one who’s often banged up and has limitations as a receiver. He’s also in a walk year. Also acquired was left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who has a reputation as one of the league’s better blockers … and for forgetting the snap count. Aging leaders like LB Bobby Wagner, TE Zach Ertz and QB2 Marcus Mariota all re-signed. OLB Von Miller joined, too, hoping for a Super Bowl ring with his third different team. Rookies Josh Conerly Jr. and Trey Amos appear to have the chops to be immediate and key contributors.

It all seemed to make sense, reloading and maybe upgrading in a bid to potentially deliver mortal blows to the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who rule the NFC East and KO’d the Commanders decisively in that NFC title game.

But lately?

The Commanders have been dragging their feet amid WR Terry McLaurin’s desire for a new contract – and if ever there was a good soldier, it’s McLaurin, who also deserves a medal for willingly being front and center for his teammates while unfailingly performing at a high level throughout the final tumultuous years of the Danny Snyder era. And, even then, despite a brief holdout and a training camp largely spent in street clothes, it felt like McLaurin would – will? – probably get his bag and smoothly reassimilate into Kliff Kingsbury’s offense as the Batman to Samuel’s Robin.

But exporting Robinson, who had nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in 2024? It’s still a bit of a surprise, even though the writing appeared on the Commanders Park walls in recent days. Quinn excused Robinson from Monday’s preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and had the good sense and class to inform the player and team of the situation before kickoff. Afterward, rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt scored on a 27-yard TD run. Third-year man Chris Rodriguez Jr. started at tailback and rushed six times for 62 yards.

“These are some really tough, tough decisions,” Quinn said Thursday, when Robinson remained on the roster.

“So, I’m definitely looking at those and that’s what’s keeping me up (at night).”

RECORD PROJECTIONS: How many games will Commanders win?

There’s no question that Quinn and Peters see a bigger picture than fans, reporters and maybe even some Commanders players can envision – and maybe it will come into focus sooner than later. Maybe the hype surrounding Croskey-Merritt, who’s been turning heads since being plucked out of Arizona in the seventh round is legit and no one will mourn Robinson’s departure in a month. Heck, no one in this town saw Alfred Morris coming when he rushed for a team record 1,613 yards as rookie in 2012 – directly benefiting from the presence of dual threat QB Robert Griffin III for what it’s worth.

Perhaps the combo of Daniels, veterans Austin Ekeler and Rodriguez plus Croskey-Merritt actually elevates a run game that ranked third in the league in 2024 even though no Commander rushed for as many as 900 yards. And it’s not like anyone will confuse Robinson’s pedestrian production − by NFL standards − with Christian McCaffrey, the dynamic runner he’ll now backstop. And yet Robinson was a generally reliable pass protector and a guy willing to fight for hard yards so Quinn and Kingsbury didn’t have to overly rely on Daniels, whose electric legs produced a team-high 891 yards in 2024.

Yet it’s hard to ignore the potential fraying to the “brotherhood” mantra Quinn has leaned on throughout his career. Robinson, a pending free agent due a modest $3.4 million in 2025, gets shipped out for a song two weeks before the season – for whatever the team’s reasons were, contractual or performance or both. Worse, McLaurin, a beloved team leader and perhaps the offense’s second-most important component, continues twisting in the wind for a club projected to have more than $60 million worth of salary cap space in 2026, per OverTheCap.

But Quinn is attuned to the NFL’s business side, much as he seems to be tiring of questions regarding Robinson and, especially, McLaurin, who’s now off the PUP list but not yet practicing. As for Peters, who previously worked for the Niners, he witnessed his former boss, John Lynch, routinely drive hard bargains late into the summer and make many tough decisions – most worked out fine.

The Commanders only have 16 days until the regular season starts. Also, the Commanders have 16 days until the regular season starts. Much will doubtless be revealed before they open against the division rival New York Giants on September 7, a game that maybe isn’t the layup it appeared to be even two weeks ago.

But in this brief interim, maybe a Washington squad loaded with veterans and led by a galvanizing coach deserve a little time and grace before anyone on Capitol Hill, Richmond, Ashburn, Landover or anywhere else in the greater DMV (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia) area pushes the panic button.

But just a little.

No more crazy playoff ideas. No more lone wolves. 

The Big Ten set the bar this summer for College Football Playoff change, and the SEC just met and exceeded it. 

Your move, Big Ten.

It’s time to see just how badly the Big Ten wants CFP expansion.

The SEC on Thursday, Aug. 22 made the first move to the center of the room, adding a ninth game to its annual conference schedule starting in 2026 — the one thing the Big Ten said it had to see before moving forward with CFP expansion.

The Big Ten has played nine conference games since 2016, and the SEC playing eight has been a sticking point between the super conferences. 

The Big Ten claimed it had a more difficult road to the playoff by playing nine. The SEC countered with, well, “We’re the SEC, and you’re not.” 

That all ended with the SEC’s long-awaited move to nine conference games. 

There’s nothing left to argue now for the Big Ten. It wanted the SEC on a level playing field, and the SEC called the Big Ten’s bluff.   

It not only moved to nine conference games, it kept a rule that forces league schools to schedule at least one non-conference game against a power conference opponent. 

Now the future of College Football Playoff expansion rests with the Big Ten, which can agree to the 5-11 format that every other Bowl Subdivision conference favors – automatic qualifiers from the five highest-ranked conference champions, and 11 at-large teams – or it can continue down the road of obstruction.

By demanding a unrealistic 4-2-1-3 format (it’s too dumb to explain), or an expansion to 24 or 28 teams (speaking of dumb), the Big Ten will expose its true desire: increased revenue at the cost of others.  

If the Big Ten still refuses the 5-11 format – which it said was more advantageous to the SEC because it could earn more at-large selections with an easier road of less conference games – it never cared about the SEC moving to nine games in the first place. 

For years, the SEC has been seen as the college football boogeyman, the all-powerful conference that controlled all things on and off the field. The death of fun, even.

It recruited the best players, won the most championships, and got the most breaks by whatever postseason plan was in place (hello, Alabama). An embarrassment of riches no one could deny or overcome. 

Until Michigan and Ohio State won back-to-back national titles the past two seasons, slowly pulling the SEC’s invincibility into question. The Big Ten then flexed and executed a power play, forcing the SEC to move off its eight-game conference schedule.

It even dragged the Big 12 into the fray, using the prop of the Big 12 playing nine conference games, too. So why couldn’t the SEC?

The Big Ten said it wanted everyone on the same page, including the ACC. Or maybe that was just another Alliance thing.

The next thing you know, SEC coaches left their conference spring meetings in May and declared their desire to play the Big Ten in non-conference games. As soon as possible. 

And for the first time, there was real momentum to move to a nine-game league schedule. Even the longtime holdouts – Kentucky, the Mississippi schools, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, South Carolina – moved toward the inevitability of it all.

“They’ve won the last two national titles,” LSU coach Brian Kelly. “We need to play them, they’re on top now.”

But you know the old southern adage, the higher you get on the ladder, the more your ass shows. The Big Ten is now in danger of this power play blowing up in its lap. 

In a perfect world, playoff strife ends quickly. The Big Ten sees the SEC’s move as genuine, and responds accordingly. 

The 5-11 format passes, and college football moves to a 16-team CFP field beginning with the 2026 season. 

It’s time to see how badly the Big Ten wants playoff expansion.

Or if it’s interested in showing more of its ass. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.

AI-assisted summary
• Sanders aims to destigmatize incontinence by openly discussing his experience and incorporating the product into his image.
• The ad campaign follows Sanders’ surgery where his bladder was removed and replaced with a neobladder.
• Sanders uses Depend to manage the changes in his bathroom habits post-surgery.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders did his first advertisement for the Depend adult diaper brand after having his cancerous bladder removed in May.

But it’s not just the latest sponsorship deal for Sanders, who also is seen in advertisements for Blenders eyewear, Aflac insurance and California Almonds.

This one is about his personal health.

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“I wasn’t joking! I truly DEPEND on @Depend,” Sanders said on Instagram on Friday Aug. 22. “Ain’t NO SHAME in taking care of yourself. NO SHAME in getting health screenings. And there certainly ain’t NO SHAME in needing added protection or using Depend to stay in the game. That’s not weakness – that’s WINNING”

The ad shows packages of the underwear underneath his Nike shoes.

The company that owns the brand confirmed to USA TODAY Sports in July that it has a partnership with Sanders. Depend often is associated with jokes about old age and embarrassing problems with incontinence. But Sanders has said he wants to take the shame out of it by discussing it openly and associating it with his personal fashion.

‘I’m about to sexy ’em up,’ Sanders told retired NFL receiver Michael Irvin in an interview posted July 28.

Sanders said after bladder surgery that “I truly depend on Depend. I cannot control my bladder.”

After his bladder was removed, a neobladder was put in its place from his small intestine. It’s led to changes with how he goes to the bathroom. Sanders talked about it with Irvin.

“You have to push through your stomach and force the pee out,” Sanders said. “Like you can’t just pee, and when you feel like you gotta go pee, you need to pee or you gonna start leaking.”

This product helps him deal with that.

“No shame at all!” Depend responded to Sanders on social media site X. “We’re proud to help you stay in the game, Coach Prime.”

Sanders has recovered from cancer and is coaching his team as normal this month. His team opens the season Aug. 29 at home against Georgia Tech.

Follow Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bscrhotenb@usatoday.com

Maxx Crosby was sold on Pete Carroll after their initial encounter when the head coach was in Las Vegas interviewing for the Raiders position.

“I was talking about his suit,” Crosby recalled. “I was like, ‘Hey, you might need to get a little bit smaller suit. That one might be outdated.’ And he’s not the one that’s going to stand down from that. He came right back at me and was talking (expletive), and I’m like, ‘Yeah, this is my type of guy.’ Those are the tough coaches you love that they’re not too sensitive anything like that. Coach (Pete) Carroll is all about that.”

Cleveland Browns making huge mistake playing Joe Flacco over young QBs

Carroll’s already put his imprint on the Raiders since the franchise named him head coach in January. Raiders players have lauded the 73-year-old’s energy and lively practices, which is even more impressive considering Carroll is entering his 31^st season in the NFL.

“He’s super energetic. I don’t know how he does it, but like the guy wakes up, like it seems like he just pops out of bed, man,” Raiders quarterback Geno Smith said of Carroll last week. “He’s just fired up as soon as he wakes up. And I mean he brings the juice every single day. When you have a leader like that at the helm, you have no choice but to fall in line. And so all of us as leaders on the team, and every single guy on the team, we’re following coach’s lead, and he’s doing a great job of leading us.’

Carroll’s registered nine seasons of at least 10 wins in his head coaching career and coached the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl 48 title. The veteran head coach is confident he can impart similar amounts of success to the Raiders. He already declared this offseason the Raiders are going to “win a bunch of games” on the heels of Las Vegas coming off a 4-13 campaign.

Carroll can insert his name as a coach of the year candidate if the Raiders win “a bunch of games” in 2025. The Raiders haven’t recorded a winning season since 2021 and reside in an AFC West division that’s arguably the toughest division in football with a who’s who list of head coaches.

‘Isn’t that something? Yeah, I think it’s great,” Carroll said when asked about coaching against Sean Payton, Andy Reid and Jim Harbaugh in the AFC West. “If you’re going to be any good, you got to beat the best teams. You have to beat them, and so if this division is loaded with that, then that’s what’s going to make us what we are. And going against Andy (Reid) and Sean (Payton) and Jimmy (Jim Harbaugh) down there, it couldn’t be any more challenging because these guys are terrific football coaches, and they’re going to have a complete team.”

Reid, Payton and Harbaugh led their teams to the postseason while the Raiders were on the outside looking in last year. Carroll and the Raiders face an uphill battle as they attempt to get back into postseason contention. But Crosby, Smith, tight end Brock Bowers and first-round pick running back Ashton Jeanty are players Carroll can build around. And one thing Carroll’s proved this offseason is he’s ready for the challenge ahead.

• The so-called Week 0 includes four games featuring FBS programs.
• Kansas State and Iowa State face off in Dublin, Ireland, in the first major college football game of the 2025 season.
• Kansas showcases its newly renovated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium when it hosts Fresno State.

We made it, college football fans. Opening day for the 2025 season is here at last, meaning we finally have some actual games to watch.

It’s an abbreviated slate on Saturday, so there’s a good chance your favorite team isn’t taking the field yet on this so-called Week 0. But these games do actually count, and in a couple of cases they have conference implications as well. Think of it as a plate of tasty appetizers before next week’s main dish.

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Here’s what you need to know for Saturday, including matchups, game times, TV information and things to keep an eye on over the course of the day.

No. 20 Kansas State vs. No. 21 Iowa State

Time/TV: Noon ET, ESPN

Why watch: Oh, you’ll watch. It’s the season kickoff, and it’s been more than seven months since we’ve had actual college football. Making this matchup from Dublin, Ireland, even more appealing, it’s a pairing of ranked teams, and it will count in the Big 12 standings. Playoff implications? Never too early to think about that, right?

Why it could disappoint: About the only way it could is if either team commits a spate of turnovers. It could turn into a ground-and-pound affair given the strength of the respective pass defenses, but that should mean a close contest throughout.

Fresno State at Kansas

Time/TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Fox

Why watch: Not to be outdone, the Sunflower State’s other FBS program also gets a Week 0 jump start. The Jayhawks’ opener in its newly renovated home stadium is not a Big 12 affair, but it could be a challenge nonetheless against a Bulldogs’ squad that usually lands in the upper tier of the Mountain West. Kansas QB Jalon Daniels is back, but he needs to be better out of the gate as eight of his 12 interceptions last season came during the Jayhawks’ 1-5 start. His counterpart for the Bulldogs and new head coach Matt Entz will be the well-traveled E.J. Warner, son of NFL hall-of-famer Kurt, who played most recently at Rice.

Why it could disappoint: Both teams have a lot of new pieces and as such will be far from finished products when they take the field. But Kansas should have the overall talent advantage, which will assert itself sooner or later.

Sam Houston at Western Kentucky

Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBSSN

Why watch: This is the second actual conference game on the Week 0 lineup, and it could be the most entertaining of the day. Both the Bearkats, who made the transition quickly from the FCS level to win 10 games last season, and the Hilltoppers, established perennial contenders in C-USA, expect to be in the hunt for the league title once again. The bad news for Sam Houston is its success came with a price as coach KC Keeler was hired away by Temple, so it will be up to new head man Phil Longo to keep the wins coming. The good news for the Bearkats is QB Hunter Watson is back after accounting for 21 total TDs last season. WKU coach Tyson Helton is still in Bowling Green, but he had to fill a lot of holes from last year’s squad that played for the conference crown a year ago. His new QB is all-name team candidate Maverick McIvor, who transfers in from Abilene Christian where he put up huge numbers while leading the Wildcats to their first Championship Subdivision playoff appearance.

Why it could disappoint: Western Kentucky took last year’s encounter 31-14 at Sam Houston, so the Bearkats will have to avoid playing catchup again. But if both offenses are able to click, this could be a track meet from start to finish.

Stanford at Hawaii

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CBS

Why watch: For a couple of teams well below the national championship radar, this matchup is more important than it might appear. Just getting to a bowl is an uphill climb for both, and the loser of this opener will face even longer postseason odds going forward. Hawaii was just a win short last season, and now the Rainbow Warriors want to make the most of this rare opportunity of a Power Four conference member paying a visit to the islands. The Cardinal, after a disappointing inaugural ACC campaign and a tumultuous offseason, need to start 2025 on a positive note. Interim Stanford coach Frank Reich will look to Oregon State transfer QB Ben Gulbranson to lead the retooled roster. Warriors coach Timmy Chang will hand the QB reins to Micah Alejado on a full-time basis after he delivered a couple of strong outings to close out last season.

Why it could disappoint: Honestly, there are any number of ways things could go off the rails for either team. From an entertainment standpoint the best-case scenario for viewers would involve both teams scoring early, but there will likely be a lot of miscues.

AI-assisted summary
• Former President Trump speculated that Vladimir Putin may attend the 2026 World Cup despite Russia’s ban from FIFA competitions.
• Trump’s comments came during the announcement of the World Cup draw location at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
• Russia was banned from FIFA following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine and did not participate in 2026 World Cup qualifying.

Despite Russia being banned from FIFA competitions, Donald Trump said he thinks that Vladimir Putin will attend the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Aug. 22 to announce that the draw for the World Cup would be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Trump showed off a photo of himself and the Russian president from the historic summit in Alaska and suggested that Putin would come to next summer’s tournament.

Trump said he believes Putin ‘will be coming, depending on what happens’ but did not elaborate beyond reiterating that he ‘may be coming and he may not, depending on what happens.’

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, standing beside Trump as he made the remarks in the Oval Office, did not comment on the possibility of Putin attending.

Russia was banned from competing in FIFA and UEFA competitions following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and it didn’t participate in qualification for the 2026 tournament.

Russia hosted the 2018 World Cup and Putin took on a large public-facing role during the festivities. He spoke at the opening ceremony and was on the field for trophy presentations following France’s win over Croatia in the final.